Lewis Hamilton’s Unforgettable Helicopter Incident Revealed by David Coulthard
In a remarkable revelation, Sir Lewis Hamilton was once completely oblivious to a helicopter making an emergency landing, as recounted by F1 legend David Coulthard. This amusing incident occurred over a decade ago during a feature for the BBC, where Hamilton was joined by the Red Arrows at RAF Scampton.
Hamilton, known for his intense focus and drive, decided to catch some much-needed rest on the chopper. After being picked up at Battersea, he settled into the back seat and dozed off, unaware of the chaotic situation that was about to unfold. Due to inclement weather, the helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing in a cornfield, where it remained grounded for nearly 45 minutes.
David Coulthard, who was sitting in the front with the pilot, was astonished that Hamilton remained completely unfazed throughout the ordeal. He reminisced, saying: “This was a feature we did for the BBC, when I was working for them. We went over to RAF Scampton with the Red Arrows, our elite display team. I remember picking up Lewis in a helicopter at Battersea, which is the only place in London where you can land a helicopter.”
Coulthard continued, “As we took off from Battersea, Lewis fell asleep in the back. He must have been out partying the night before or something. We hit heavy fog en route to the airfield and had to land in a cornfield to avoid big wind generators between Battersea and our destination. Throughout all this, Lewis was still asleep!”
After about 45 minutes of waiting, the helicopter took off again and they eventually arrived at the airfield—albeit late. As luck would have it, the fog had cleared, allowing them to proceed with their planned activities. Coulthard added, “We got to go up with the RAF, and Lewis even participated in a shootout along the runway in his Formula 1 car. I have a picture on my office wall where I’m in a jet fighter, and he’s in the Formula 1 car. It was such a fun experience; a great feature overall.”
Now at the age of 40, Hamilton is embarking on a new chapter of his career with Ferrari after a long and successful tenure at Mercedes, which lasted 12 years. Currently, he sits in ninth place in the Drivers’ Championship, having earned nine points in the early races of the season, including the Australian and Chinese Grands Prix.
In Summary:
- Lewis Hamilton once slept through a helicopter making an emergency landing.
- The incident occurred during a BBC feature with David Coulthard and the Red Arrows.
- Heavy fog forced an emergency landing in a cornfield for nearly 45 minutes.
- Hamilton was completely unaware of the situation as he slept peacefully.
- Coulthard shared fond memories of the event and their subsequent RAF adventure.
- Hamilton is now racing for Ferrari and sits ninth in the Drivers’ Championship.